I just read the blog which almost made headlines. Aamir Khan naming a dog after Shahrukh Khan. Ouch.

I wonder what's wrong with the old fellow. He is such an amazing actor and a brilliant director. An annoying perfectionist with a penchant for cheating on his ex wife, Reena. Procreating rather promiscuously, introducing another being into this world and then finally settling for his Assistant Director. Aamir Khan sure has never had a dull moment in his life.

Though I must admit, we are no one to comment on his personal life. Who he chooses to live with, marry or father isn't our concern. So, this brings us back to the 'dog' topic.

Is it jealousy or just his version of humour, one will never know except him. It was quite an attack though. In his blog, he described, canine Shahrukh Khan to be eating biscuits out of Aamir's hand and licking his feet. There is also a mention of the SRK smelling. *smiling to myself*. Okay, so maybe AK did get carried away this time. I can see pure envy and competition in his blog. It's almost like he's booked his permanent ticket to unpopularity. No one would've guessed AK would get so down and dirty. What is the world coming to anyway? We have rapes, murders, thefts, mafia and great human beings ruffled by other greats and succumbing to weird tactics, christening of dogs. Sweet.

My heart breaks when I think of this as true. I loved AK and would probably still do once the shock of his weirdness dies down. But it's hard to believe that a grown intelligent man would resort to outrageous tactics.

But I must admit, his blogs are rather interesting and he's doing a good job of it. As long as he stays away from slander...

Grow up Mister Khan.

It happened when I was 18 years old. It happened like a lightening strike and I knew from that day there was no turning back.

I was always a brave child. Except a nasty incident when I was stuck on top of an ugly 4 feet tall fish fountain and refused to get down and wailed my lungs out while people tried to coax me off the fountain. The whole fiasco was not too different from a cat stuck on a tree or a high ledge and rescued by firefighters or other brave men. Ultimately, my helper had to carry me off the grotesque fish structure and I was saved. Tear stricken and choking with embarrassing hiccups, I think I wasn't pacified until I was safely in the arms of my Mother. Okay, maybe not so brave, but hey, cut me some slack here, I was 6 years old.

I was brave enough to dangle cockroaches by their antennae while the other girls squealed in fear or maybe excitement. As children we were judged on our abilities to pick up insects and other creepy crawlies without so much as shuddering in disgust. Somehow, I'm glad all that has changed. For good. Or maybe for worse. I've been to the markets many times with my parents, relatives and even helpers and I never once flinched at a fish being chopped up into pieces or a chicken being defeathered and headless with nothing short of fascination and vulgar interest. It all changed as I grew up and I lost all my bravery.

So, it struck me when I was 18. I remember distinctly, it was November 30th, 2005 and we were on our way to a birthday party. Before we got into the complex, I saw a man rather unceremoniously pulling a goat by it's ears. And as if the dragging by the ears was not bad enough, he teamed it with swift raps on the goat's head with his rough, dirty hands. I remember yelling across the street and heard a voice telling me to grow up, it was all happening in slow motion. But the rage and sadness all intermingled and diffused through my mind within seconds. I knew the goat was taken to a butcher. My mind had been made. I stopped eating meat from that very day.

I've never preached and told other people to stop eating non vegetarian food, my entire family has different dietary wants than mine and we all live in harmony. Well, at least most of the times. :)

When I stubbornly voiced my decision, I was laughed at and brushed aside. I don't blame the reaction, after all who would believe a chicken nugget addict vowing never to touch another chicken nugget for the rest of her life? It was pure insanity. But maybe the staunch resolution in my eyes or the quick defense and the ready temper told people that this time, I meant business.

As I grew up, age did not harden me against life. In fact, just the opposite. I became, embarrassingly, a 'softie'. My encounters with roaches did not involve their tangling against gravity from the balcony of the 8th floor. It now involved, hurriedly shooing them away from the wrath of roach haters and saving them from a painful end which disgusting involved a chappal. In my first year, a zoology practical had demanded us to dissect roaches. I think I almost fainted or cried. I was in shock. I was in shock because an insect which meant nothing to me was getting cut up. Oh hell. I was turning into marshmallow.

It's been two and the half years since I quit and I'm happy. I still have weird feelings for living creatures. I just can't seem to kill them or eat them anymore. I guess I will need to learn the hard way and soon. And until then, I'm happy. :)

The holidays are here! The holidays are here! Is all I could think of when my exams got over. That fateful day, April 25th, 2008. I shall never forget the feeling. The feeling of the end of an era and a new beginning of the unknown. The last day of my exams. Bloody hell!
I was overjoyed. Everyone in TYBSc was overjoyed. No more Microbiology, no more Biochemistry and thankfully no more Environmental Science! This is the good life! We ran out of our class room. Bounced up and down, did our little victory dance. Group hugs were in place, yells, sighs of relief. The moment we had been waiting for. The past four months had been nothing short of slow mental torture. Exams and assignments since January were weighing on our fickle minds. It was pure insanity. In the middle we stopped caring. The Prelims were like a big joke to us. We failed, did miserably and were rather unabashed. One thought always striking everyone's minds, these aren't the Boards, we'll work hard for them, work harder for them.
And then it happened. The Boards were days away, realization slowly sunk in. We couldn't work as hard for them. There was no time. We had shammed all year long, we had wasted time, partied, boogied the night away, but we hadn't bothered to study or look at our notes. We were officially doomed.
So, the cramming began. And so did the worrying, the fervent praying and suddenly outbursts of religious fancies. Faith is always the answer.
Well, it was all over now. The exams were done, we were almost graduates, it all felt really lovely. The last day of our papers, visions of us getting smashed kept floating happily in and out our semi drugged minds. But plans seemed doomed that day. As I recollect correctly, I ended up heading home and watching television. So much for party plans. Bah!
It's been six days since the day of my liberation from graduate studies. And guess what? I am already bored. I've read about five books. Trust me, having a read-as-many-as-you-can-in-a-day marathon is not a good idea. My eyes felt sore, I forgot about my meals and all I did was lay down on my lumpy mattress and read. I could not tear my eyes away from the pages, they had me hypnotized. So, when I finally finished the third in a day, I willed myself off the bed and realized what a slob I was being. But I knew if I took a break from reading, boredom would strike me down like an arrow. Or a bullet. Or a big rock. And it would be unpleasant. Whatever.
The thing is, I need to do something now. Desperately. Or I'll border madness. I tried the television, but isn't it ironic how every favourite program of yours is telecasted only during your exams? And magically once the exams are done, the shows go off air? It's like karma or something. Or maybe just bad luck. Bad, real bad, rotten luck. Grumble grumble.
So, it's been six days since the time I've been on my permanent vacation and I'm bored to the pits.
I'm ashamed of myself! Dream come true, exams kicked in the butt, I've got the time in the world to ponder over things, read, write, and do things that lazy people do. And here I am, hoping for more.
Okay, lets shake ourselves out of this mess. Lets pull our socks together and focus. I know! I'll make a planner or a thing to do list!Let's see how it fairs. Here goes nothing:
1. Go to gym
2. Read books
3. Watch television
4. Learn to cook.
5. Hunt for a job
6. Go on vacation
7. Pamper self in spa (this one's just a dream)
8. Write short stories
9. Remove hideous hot pink nail polish from nails.
10. Read some more books.

There! Now I have a to do list just like everyone else. Life should be simpler for the moment. I think I've got many more pointers to add, but we'll start small, shouldn't we?
And just for the record, I read two books by Nora Roberts and thought she is one of the worst authors I've ever bothered to read. So, maybe you would want to keep away from, them books. Gag!
Until next time!

2003. The year I escaped from school and took my first steps towards St.Xavier's College. I remember my first visit so clearly. The stone walls seem to swallow you. It feels as though you are in a different world, different era all together. It's gorgeous. The building is so magistic. I knew this is where I wanted to be, here's where I did end up eventually.

2008. It's all over. I graduate.

I cannot believe it. The thought of leaving college hasn't gone down well with me. Stepping into another different world? No! Wait! Stop! Really? To do it all over again? Will I manage? Ah..

As they say, college years are some of the best years of one's life, this line gets tested by everyone and has almost never been wrong. At least mine were the best ever. :)

Shall miss you, X!

Its you

By Switchfoot...

 

There's always something
In the way
There's always something
Getting through
But it's not me
it's You

Sometime's ignorance
Rings true
But hope is not in
What I know
Not in me
It's in You

It's all I know

And I find peace
When I'm confused
I find hope when
I'm let down
Not in me
But in You

I hope to lose myself
For good
I hope to find it in the end
Not in me
It's You
It's all I know

The exhibition went off pretty well. With all the hard work *and mostly last minute work* my classmates and I put in, it had to go well. My topic was microarrays and its pretty interesting actually. I myself hadn't known about it, until I was assigned to do it. But now that I have, I'm glad.

On the day of the exhibition, my entire microbio class and I reached college at the earliest. We immediately began to fix our charts. Last minute additions, or changes, or last minute nerves! Quite honestly, we were all nervous as hell! An exhibition! With real charts and working models if possible! Boy, what had we gotten ourselves into? The honours students, which includes me too, were more petrified as we had a viva too. And that would give us one credit.

So, we set up our lab. Put up our posters and charts and waited with baited breath for the first years and the third years to come and scrutinize our work of art. They arrived! We seemed mortified at first! We had to explain and answer all sorts of questions and doubts. The TY's immediately started ragging us and asked us twisted questions and tried to make us as jittery as possible. But some of my very smart classmates just answered back. LOL. When the first year's arrived, they immediately started viewing the charts. Since, my turn came later, I had to wait a while and until then got feedback from my friends, "The FY's are asking questions! What do we do now?" And I think to myself, are we supposed to be scared of them? Hell, they are our juniors! And probably don't even know the subject *just like we didn't last year!!!* So, our strategy became 'ask them questions before they can ask us!!' Brilliant isn't it?! ;)

The explanations went on. Loads of juniors and seniors came up to our tables turn by turn and we had to go on explaining our charts and in my case 'microarrays'. I think I must have memorized the topic by now!

Day two was similar. Once again students came by to view our master pieces. And we were also to have our viva on that day. Fear and some more fear! So scared, so nervous! This credit meant a lot to us! And being grilled by our fearful professors wasn't everyone's sweetest of dreams.

My viva went off 'okay'. It wasn't bad as such, but deep within me, I know it wasn't great either. I couldn't answer a few questions and I somehow feel that would cost me dearly. Bah! Don't like it. But anyway, just glad the ordeal is done and it entire concept was a nice experience.

 

As a child, I always wanted a pet! My sister and I would get puppies from around the neighbourhood, just to be chased away by my Mom. Her philosophy was, it was either the pup or us! And she meant it. No amount of begging, screaming, tantrums and "bhookh hadtaals" could waver my parents staunch decision, much to our chagrine.

So, that was that. No pets. But we still tried to smuggle stray dog pups into the house! My mom would discover them and all hell would break loose! I remember my sister had brought a kitten, whom she very lovingly named Voldemort, but even the strange name didn't soften my Mom's resolution.

But now things have taken a 180 degree turn. My mom's soft heart seems to have found its place. No, no, haven't got a "pet" yet in the true sense of the word, but, yes, we are surrounded by loads of animals. Confused? Yes, ofcourse you would be. Let me elaborate.

When we moved into Flowerville (thats Namrata's name for my colony as all the buildings have embarrassing floral names), which is our sixth move in Mumbai, by the way, along with house and all we also had to acknowledge the three colony dogs.

The Dada of the colony, most ferocious, biggest, most handsome and reputed to have mercilessly bitten over 70 people, his name is Fluffy. Fluffy is King of the area, humans as well as dogs fear him and he fears none. On the rare advent of any other stray or foreign looking dog entering our colony, Fluffy is the first one amongst the three others to charge and bark like a mad rabid dog. The poor little creature, who dared enter Fluffy's domain, would yelp, tail beneath its legs and run for its life. Also as a leader, its Fluffy who decides whom to attack and whom to allow inside. I have seen men and animals, both quail under the piercing eyes and very sharp teeth of Fluff. At first, Fluffy didn't approve of us either but over the years he's gotten accustomed to us and his attacks have stemmed, much to our relief. Phew!

Dog No.2 is Rani. She's the only female dog in our colony and surprisingly none of the other two males seem interested in her. I hate to say this, but maybe because she isn't exactly a belle. Who would have thought looks mattered amongst dogs too? Chauvinism prevails everywhere. She's a plump creature and mostly docile. Loves children and is always seen with them. She doesn't even seem to mind the incessant pulling of her tail or ears or her made a donkey! But when provoked, even the highly submissive Rani changes into an unrecognisable, terrorising, weredog!

The third dog is my very own, Kaalu. He's an albino, but wouldn't respond to anything else besides Kaalu. So Kaalu he is and Kaalu he shall remain. He practically worships my Dad and squeals and barks, prances and dances when he see's Dad for a reason none of us are able to fathom. His antics are hilarious! And I've never seen my Dad more happy than being around Kaalu. Kaalu sleeps outside our front door and no amount of scolding, threats, water, bribes, naval police could get him to go down! He dilly-dally's all day and does nothing but sleeps and occasionally attacks the poor, petrified other residents of our building, who do not share the same love for him as we do. I have lost count of the number of complaints against him. Each time we think of reprimanding him, his innocent little eyes melt our hearts away.

My Dad and him are especially close. Its like they share a special bond of some sorts. They even converse! Dad in human tongue, whereas Kaalu speaks in doggie language! Its hilarious looking at them.

Kaalu is a very special entity in our lives. We try to ignore the fact that he's probably never had a bath in his entire lifetime and is mannerless, fights like a hero with innocent passers-by, but other than that, he's a gem of an animal.

 

kaaaalu!! we loooooooove yaa!! biscuits for u!!! woof woof!

To be continued....